Onychium, 11: 139-142
ISSN: 1224-2669
Published 20 April 2015
www.onychium.it
New records of the alien invasive species Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) in
Italy (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Mattia MENCHETTI1, Leonardo ANCILLOTTO2,3, Danilo RUSSO3, Sandro BERTOLINO4,
Giovanni BETTACCHIOLI5 & Emiliano MORI4
1
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, via Madonna del Piano 6,
I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy, e-mail: [email protected]
2
Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”,
Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
3
Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria,
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università 100, I-80055 Portici (Naples), Italy
4
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, Università di Torino,
largo Paolo Braccini 2, I-10095, Grugliasco (Turin), Italy
5
Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena,
via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100, Siena, Italy
Abstract. We present the first records of the invasive alien species Harmonia axyridis from Aosta Valley, Umbria
and Apulia. These observations are important because, outside its native range, the species exerts severe impacts
on native biodiversity and human health. Early warnings are crucial to prevent its further spreading.
Riassunto. Nuove segnalazioni della specie aliena invasiva Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) in Italia
(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). In questa nota segnaliamo per la prima volta la specie aliena invasiva Harmonia
axyridis per Valle d’Aosta, Umbria e Puglia. Laddove naturalizzata, questa specie esercita un impatto significativo
sulla biodiversità e sulla salute umana, richiedendo perciò rapidi interventi atti a limitarne la diffusione.
Key words. Alien species, distribution, established species.
The harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) is a coccinellid beetle native to Asia which
has been widely introduced throughout the world as a biocontrol agent to contrast aphids and coccids
(see KOCH, 2003 for a review). Harmonia axyridis is listed among the 100 of the worst invasive alien
species in Europe (ROY & ROY, 2008), since its impact on native biodiversity (ROY & WAJNBERG,
2008) and human health (MAZZA et al., 2014) are considerable.
Outside its native range, this species can outcompete indigenous Coccinellidae exploiting resources
more efficiently; it is an opportunistic predator of many native Diptera, Neuroptera and Coleoptera
(KOCH et al., 2003). Harmonia axyridis can cause significant economic damages to fruit crops,
mainly grapes, on which it feeds, also altering their taste. It is also known to nip humans if handled
(BOTEZATU et al., 2013). Moreover, the hemolymph of the harlequin ladybird contains allergenic
substances such as Hara 1 and 2, which may cause rhinitis, asthma, conjunctivitis and urticaria to
humans (KOCH et al., 2003).
The ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens Thaxt. infects H. axyridis, also in Europe, and it
may threat also native ladybirds (CERYNGIER & TWARDOWSKA, 2013).
In Italy, the species has been intentionally introduced in greenhouses for biocontrol between 1995 and
1999 (BURGIO et al., 2008). The presence of H. axyridis in natural environments has been reported
since 2006 in Northern Italy (Piedmont, Turin: BURGIO et al., 2008). CORNACCHIA & NARDI (2012)
reviewed the extent of occurrence of H. axyridis in Italy, showing data from twelve regions (Fig. 1).
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In this note we report the occurrences of this invasive ladybird for three other Italian regions: Aosta
Valley, Umbria and Apulia.
Fig. 1. Map of the known regions of occurrence of Harmonia axyridis in Italy (left), according to C ORNACCHIA &
NARDI (2012) (grey colour) and location of the new records in Aosta Valley, Umbria and Apulia (stripped
pattern); our records are highlighted in the regional maps on the right.
In Aosta Valley, an adult specimen (colour form succinea) was collected on September 15th 2014 on a
stone wall (Dejoz, Valsavarenche). No other specimens were detected in the surroundings.
In Umbria and Apulia, several individuals were observed (and in part photographed) or collected;
then, the identification of the specimens (all belonging to the form succinea) was confirmed by the
authors.
In Umbria, about 20 individuals were found on October 15th 2013 in a room (Spazzavento, Città di
Castello, Perugia province). Three further individuals were observed and photographed in August
2014, and one collected on November 2nd 2014, on a window sill in Città di Castello.
In Apulia, one adult individual was photographed on a branch of an ornamental tree (Bignoniaceae) in
a green area of Monopoli (Bari province). Further evidences are required to confirm the actual
establishment of H. axyridis in all these regions. Details of the collection data are as follows:
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Material examined. Aosta Valley: Valsavarenche (AO), Dejoz, headquarters of the Gran Paradiso
National Park, 1555 m a.s.l., 45°35'32.56"N 7°12'36.14"E, 15.IX.2014, M. Menchetti, E. Mori & L.
Ancillotto leg., 1 ex. (form succinea; Fig. 2), collection of the Museo di Storia Naturale
dell’Università degli Studi di Firenze. Umbria: Città di Castello (PG), Spazzavento, 409 m a.s.l.,
43°26'12.37"N 12°13'23.10"E, 15.X.2013, photo by G. Bettacchioli, 1 ex. (form succinea); Città di
Castello (PG), 386 m a.s.l., 43°27'52.78"N 12°14'33.80"E, 15.VIII.2014, photo by G. Bettacchioli, 1
ex. (form succinea); idem, 2.XI.2014, G. Bettacchioli leg., 1 ex. (form succinea), private collection G.
Bettacchioli. Apulia: Monopoli (BA), 12 m a.s.l. 40°57'09.77"N 17°17'57.86"E 9.IX.2013, photo by
V. Bini, 1 ex. (form succinea).
Fig. 2. The specimen of H. axyridis from Aosta Valley (scale bar = 2 mm).
These new reports come from a range of latitudes, altitudes and landscapes confirming, as already
reported by BAZZOCCHI et al. (2004) and by BIDINGER et al. (2012), that most of the national Italian
territory is suitable for the establishment of H. axyridis. Dispersal abilities of this ladybird are
remarkable, as well as its plasticity to adapt to different environmental conditions. However, the
passive transport is the main pathway of invasion of new areas (BROWN et al. 2011; CORNACCHIA &
NARDI, 2012). Moreover, H. axyridis can have up to five generations per year in the introduced range
(ONGAGNA et al., 1993; BAZZOCCHI et al., 2004; CORNACCHIA & NARDI, 2012).
An appropriate level of knowledge of the distribution of alien species plays a critical role to cope with
biological invasions (GENOVESI & SHINE, 2004). Thus, monitoring of all the sites where we recorded
H. axyridis is required to plan control strategies in order to preserve the native biota and to minimize
adverse impacts.
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Acknowledgements
Authors thank Vito Bini for the observation from Apulia, Fabio Cianferoni and Giuseppe Mazza for useful
comments provided on an early draft, the Gran Paradiso National Park for hospitality, two anonymous referees and
the editor who improved our manuscript with useful comments and recommendations, a native English speaker
(Paul Jennings) who revised the language and grammar of an early draft. Authors thank Fabio Cianferoni and
Saulo Bambi for the photo.
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Received 15 October 2014
Accepted 10 December 2014
© 2015, Menchetti et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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